Tours

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About Tours

Tours Football Club (; commonly referred to as simply Tours) is a Football in France club based in Tours, the capital city of the Indre-et-Loire Departments of France. The club was formed in 1919 and currently play in Ligue 2, the second level of Football in France. Tours plays its home matches at the Stade de la Vallée du Cher located within the city. The team is managed by Peter Zeidler and Captain (association football) by midfielder Julien Cardy.

History

Tours Football Club was founded in 1919 as under the name AS Docks-du-Centre. After two years of playing under the moniker, the club changed its name to AS du Centre. The club spent 30 years under the name as French football entered professionalism in the 1930s. In 1951, the club changed its name again to the current Tours FC. Under the Tours emblem, the club achieved success in its infancy reaching the Round of 64 in the Coupe de France thanks to player-coach Alfred Aston that same year.

Tours was promoted to the Ligue 1 in 1980. Prior to the start of the season, the club signed prolific striker Delio Onnis from AS Monaco FC. Onnis improved the club's attack significantly over the next three years and departing the club in 1983 after Tours suffered relegation. During Onnis' stint between 1980–1983, Tours twice reached the semi-finals of the Coupe de France in 1981–82 Coupe de France and 1982–83 Coupe de France. The club was eliminated on both occasions by Paris Saint-Germain F.C.. In 1984, Tours quickly returned to the first division after winning Ligue 2 title. However, after one season, the club returned to the lower league. Tours have yet to manage a return to Ligue 1.

During the club's current absence from Ligue 1, Tours fell to the Championnat National, the third division of French football, after finishing dead last in the 2006–07 Ligue 2. During the season, Albert Falette, the club manager for eight years was removed from his position. At the end of the season, the club released or sold almost all its players, including captain David Fleurival. The club only kept long-time goalkeeper Armand Raimbault and young prospect Rudy Wendling. The long-term outlook strategy paid off with the club finishing second in the 2007–08 National season, thus returning to Ligue 2, where the club currently remain.

Colours and logos

Tours' crest is inspired by the city's coats of arms with three towers and a Fleur-de-lis. It bears the club's motto "Turonorum civitas libera", which means in Latin "Free city of Turones". Turones is the Celts tribe, which gave its name to Tours. The motto was found engraved on a rock, which is now in the undergrounds of the Beaux Arts Museum located in the city. The salamander is a reference to King Francis I of France.

Stadium

Tours has been playing at the Stade de la Vallée du Cher since 1978. In 1979, the stadium's capacity was 22,000, but now only incorporates on 13,500. The stadium was built thanks to former mayor Jean Royer, as he wanted a decent venue for the club. Before the construction of the Vallée du Cher, Tours played its home matches at the Stade de Grammont.

Supporters

In France, Tours is not a town fond of football because of the lack of football tradition. Moreover, supporters were disappointed of the club's poor results in the past. However, the accession to Ligue 2 in 2006 has created some interest in the city and audiences in the stadium are gradually increasing. There are currently three groups of supporters:

- Amicale des supporters- Kop 37- Supras Tours

Players

Notable former players

Below are the notable former players who have represented Tours in Ligue 1 and international competition since the club's foundation in 1919. To appear in the section below, a player must have played in at least 80 official matches for the club.

For a complete list of Tours FC players, see :Category:Tours FC players.